Another $200K Biglaw Compensation Match

Associates at the firm are very happy!

(via Getty Images)

The Biglaw market seems to be moving pretty quickly in response to Milbank’s move to $200,000 in first-year associate compensation.

Just a few short hours after the associate salary raises were announced, we have another firm stepping up to the plate and matching the new market standard. Today Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft announced they’d be bumping up associate salaries between $10,000 – $15,000, depending on class year.

The new salary scale is as follows, effective July 1:

Class              Salary
2020/21         $200,000

2019                $210,000

2018                $230,000

2017                $270,000

2016                $295,000

2015                $320,000

2014                $340,000

2013                $355,000

You can read the firm’s full announcement on the next page.

CWT isn’t a firm known for sticking its neck out, compensation-wise. As a tipster noted:

Cadwalader already matched, which is shocking after it spent so much time last year trying to skimp on bonuses, and they’re seldom early movers. Guess they are trying to win people back over. We’ll take it!

Remember everyone, we depend on your tips to stay on top of this stuff. So when your firm matches, please text us (646-820-8477) or email us (subject line: “[Firm Name] Matches Milbank”). Please include the memo if available. You can take a photo of the memo and send it via text or email if you don’t want to forward the original PDF or Word file.

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Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).


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